Prof. Udenta Udenta, former national secretary of the defunct Action Alliance for Democracy (AD) says a presidential ticket featuring Peter Obi and a northern running mate could defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Udenta said any strong south-north pairing within the opposition stands a good chance of unseating the incumbent.
He said political zoning remains important in Nigeria as a way to manage elite competition and maintain balance across regions.
“I have been on record because of the necessity of zoning as a way to restrain the appetite of the elite,” he said.
Udenta said the opposition must carefully consider its ticket composition if it intends to defeat Tinubu in 2027.
“In a political analysis, any pairing today — Obi in the south and anybody else in the north — will defeat Tinubu,” he said.
He argued that recent political developments suggest that opposition forces are gradually consolidating.
He referenced reports that talks between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had collapsed, noting that such shifts could strengthen opposition alignment.
Udenta added that internal struggles within opposition parties have tested the resilience of key figures, but said some leaders have remained consistent despite political pressure.
He said the opposition must build a credible coalition and present a balanced ticket if it hopes to mount a serious challenge in the next election.
